Galen Kirkpatrick came into flying just seven short years ago and is the 2023 US National Champion, the first female in the history of paragliding to do so. Not long after her first flights she quit her day job and dove into into the deep end of the paragliding pool. She sought the best mentors, got into acro, became a sought-after tow tech, became and instructor, got into comps and hasn’t looked back. Her story is a remarkable climb to the top against a stiff headwind. It began with a fascination (and considerable fear) of flight, an early tree impact and eventually a complete course correction- in life, and in flying. The result has been an absolutely astonishing year of flying lights-out. After some very nice results in Brazil a year ago Galen headed over to Europe to compete in a world cup in Spain to get warmed up for the Worlds in France. But life had other ideas. Instead of flying in the competition, Galen, in her own words “had a complete break down.” The result? Galen took the pressure off and started writing a new script. One that was based on fun first. One that overcame self-doubt and created space for creativity- in her air game as well as her ground game. Galen was 3rd at US Nationals in Chelan (overall). Then she won US Nationals at the Red Rocks Wide Open (one task was a personal best!). She was 3rd overall at the Monarca last month. She’s on a role, and in this episode we dive into how she’s done it, and the tools she’s built we can all use to succeed. Follow Galen on Instagram and her guiding adventures @readysetgalenTakeaways* SIV training is crucial for becoming a safe and skilled pilot.



* Emotional safety is essential in flying, allowing pilots to be creative and have fun.



* Creating a new story and believing in oneself can lead to success in competitions.



* Confidence is an asset in flying, while arrogance is a liability.



* Applying lessons from flying to life can lead to personal growth and self-awareness. Preparing for competitions requires finding the right emotional space and being self-aware.



* The US comp scene is experiencing a shift, with more cohesion and support among pilots.



* The momentum of women in the sport is growing, with a focus on working together and supporting each other.



* Being yourself and having mutual respect within the community are important for personal growth and success.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Syncing Up00:28 Background and Flying Career03:03 Transition to Making a Living from Flying04:51 Teaching and Training06:33 The Importance of SIV07:06 Willful Ignorance and Risk Tolerance08:35 Creating a Safe Cross-Country Pilot09:52 The Midair Incident in Turkey11:15 Will Gadd’s Mindset and Risk Assessment12:11 The Concept of Willful Ignorance16:20 Applying Flying Lessons to Life19:03 The Relationship Between Flying and Life21:21 Getting Into Competitions22:21 Becoming the National Champion26:59 The Spain Experience and Creating a New Story27:12 Course Correction and Self-Reflection30:48 Creating Emotional Safety in Flying37:18 The Importance of Confidence39:20 Creating a New Lore and Emotional Safety46:00 The Importance of Fun and Creativity in Flying49:22 Dealing with Mistakes and Emotional Exhaustion50:10 Preparing for the Super Final56:05 The Momentum of Women in the Sport01:02:06 The Shift in the US Comp Scene01:06:36 Being Yourself and Mutual Respect